On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Ameera Shah-led Metropolis Healthcare Limited, India’s second-largest and most respected pathology laboratory chain, has shared fresh insights from its large-scale lipid analysis, revealing how early metabolic imbalance may be silently driving India’s diabetes burden.
The findings draw upon Metropolis’ nationwide lipid profile study of over 3.9 lakh individuals, originally released around World Heart Day, and now reinterpreted to highlight its strong metabolic and diabetes linkage. The analysis found that nearly one in three Indians show lipid abnormalities, a clear signal of early metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance, both precursors to Type 2 Diabetes.
The data indicates that cholesterol and triglyceride imbalances often appear years before blood sugar levels become abnormal, underscoring the need to look beyond glucose monitoring for a complete picture of metabolic health. Nearly 35% of individuals were found to be at major risk due to low HDL (“good cholesterol”), while 33% exhibited elevated triglyceride levels, both key indicators of poor fat metabolism and early insulin resistance.
Alarmingly, a younger demographic is increasingly showing signs of metabolic stress. Individuals in their 30s and 40s with low HDL or high triglycerides are silently moving toward diabetes, often without any visible symptoms — pointing to a silent metabolic shift in India’s urban and semi-urban population.
Key National Insights
· Men were found to be at higher risk, with 37.5% showing high triglycerides and 46.5% showing low HDL, compared to 28.9% and 24.3% among women respectively — indicating a strong gender-linked vulnerability.
· These abnormalities were observed across all age groups, including younger adults, suggesting that metabolic imbalance is increasingly independent of obesity. Lifestyle factors such as stress, poor sleep, and processed diets are likely major contributors.
The findings reinforce the importance of regular lipid and glucose screening for adults above 30 years, enabling timely intervention through lifestyle modification and medical guidance. Metropolis’ TruHealth Packages offer comprehensive health evaluations that help detect and manage metabolic and cardiovascular risks effectively.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is diagnosed when a person has three or more of the following – abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, Low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting plasma glucose as together they increase the chances of developing diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver among other risks. Our study yields similar statistics as reported in literature; the global prevalence of MetS varies from 12.5% to 31.4%. This is a call to action as Non – communicable diseases (NCDs) become a major public health concern.
Commenting on the findings, Mr. Surendran Chemmenkotil, Managing Director, Metropolis Healthcare Limited, said: “At Metropolis, our mission goes beyond diagnostics — it’s about helping people understand their health before disease develops. The data clearly shows that metabolic risks are building silently in younger adults, and that awareness and early testing can change this trajectory. By transforming our insights into public education, we hope to enable a preventive health movement across India.”
Dr. Kirti Chadha, Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer, Metropolis Healthcare Limited, added: “Metabolic imbalance is the body’s early alarm, often sounding years before diabetes is detected. Low HDL and high triglycerides are among the first signs of insulin resistance. Regular lipid and glucose testing can identify these patterns early, giving people the opportunity to make meaningful lifestyle changes and prevent progression to diabetes. With the growing use of weight-loss and metabolic therapies, regular laboratory monitoring remains essential to track metabolic health and support safe, effective outcomes.
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